Window-cleaner.



G. L. HOLLAND. WINDOW CLEANER.

APPLICATION rum) JUNE 17, 190B.

Patented Nov. 3, 1908.

GEORGE L. HOLLAND, OF GENEVA, NEW YORK.

WINDOW-CLEANER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 3, 1908.

Application filed June 17, 1908. Serial No. 438,950.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE L. HOLLAND, a citizen of the United States, residing} at Geneva, in the county of Ontario and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Im )rovements in Window-Cleaners, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings, which form a part thereof.

My invention relates to window cleaners and more particularly to a type thereof adapted to receive and retain a cloth upon the end of a long carrier.

The main object of the invention is to rovide a device of this character which wil receive and retain a piece of cloth, chamois, or other similar material in a manner to hold same firmly and prevent its rolling in a manner to interfere with the use of the cloth as a window washer, or duster, and at the same time so shape or distend the cloth as to provide a surface which may be used to get mto angles either along the lines of a sash, frame or ceiling, or in corners.

A still further object is to provide a device of this character wherein the holding parts will be so forced together and positioned as to be protected by the cloth, or by other parts of the holder, to prevent their engaging with the glass, woodwork, or side walls, and scratchin or otherwise mutilating same.

A still urther object is to provide a device having the characteristics above referred to, wherein the holding means, when released, will automatically open.

A still further object is to provide a device the holding mechanism of which will comprise a plurality of stiff spring wires so shaped as to readily engage and retain a cloth, as above described, and adapted to be mounted in an elongated handle in a manner which will permit the device to be quickly assembled, and prevent a displacement of parts when it is so assembled. And a still further object is to rovide a device of this character which will e neat and compact in form, durable in use, and capable of being inexpensively produced.

The invention consists, primarily, in the combination, in a window cleaner, of a handle with a plurality of divergently extended stiff wire hooks arranged in pairs, the members of each pair of which are oppositely disposed, one pair of said mem are forming arms projected forwardly of all of said members whereby a cloth will be shaped and held away from said members, and means whereby said members may be closed. u on a piece of cloth; and in such other novel eatures of construction and combinations of parts as are hereinafter set forth and described and more particularly pointed out in the claims hereto appended.

Referring to the drawings :Figure 1 is a front elevation of a cleaner embodying my invention with the handle ferrule shown in section, and the handle broken away; Fig. 2 is a plan view of the cleaner; Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1, and Fig. 4 is a detail view of the handle ferrule.

Like letters refer to like parts throughout the several views.

In the embodiment of my invention shown in the drawings, the handle of the device, which is made of wood and of from four to five feet in length, is shown at a. Secured to one end of said handle, preferably in a manner to be hereinafter described, is a cloth holding mechanism or device composed of a plurality of stiff wire hooks adapted to receive, retain and shape a cloth so as to permit it to be used for washing or cleaning places which are not conveniently accessible. These hooks, in. the embodiment of the invention shown in the drawings, are four in number, arranged in pairs, the members of each pair being op ositely disposed. The shank b of the front liook is shorter than the shank c of the rear hook, and shanks d e of both side hooks are of the same length, but longer than either shank b, c. The wire shanks b c are each provided with a turned end, forming the hooks, b c, projected toward the other, the difference in the lengths of the shanks b c causing the books I) c to overlap each other when the holding member is closed.

Each side member d e, at its outer or free end, has a forwardly projected arm f g, having an inwardly turned end, respectively forming laterally projected hooks f g, which arms and hooks not only engage and retain the cloth, but distend and sha e it so as to give operative surface free 0 the various shanks b, 0 cl, 6. This arrangement permits a cloth to be so used as to enter angles and corners thus especially adapting the device for use, as a Window cleaner, or as a duster for cornices. The arms f, g, and hooks f it will be observed, are always above t e hooks b c, and the forward projection of the latter leaves a clearance beneath them sufficient to cause only that position of the cloth, I or cleaner, carried forwardly of said hooks to engage the object being cleaned.

Surrounding the shanks b, c, d, e, is a ring, or ferrule h, preferably composed of a coil of stiff wire, which is adapted to close the holding members, when moved thereon, away from the handle a, and ermit them to open, when moved toward said handle,

To provide simple, yet effective means securing the holding nember to the handle a, I turn the lower end of each shank b, c, d, e, outwardly at 2', j, k, m, and project the end of the handle a with four radial slots (1, a3, a a, each adapted to receive one end i, j, k or m, the depth of these slots being sufiicient to afford ample gripping surfaces between the shanks b, c, d, e. To bind the segments of the handle upon said shanks, I use a tapered ferrule 11., adapted to be forced over the end of the said handle a.

In assembling the device, the ferrules h and n are first slipped over the shanks b, c, d, e, and each turned end i, j, k, m, is seated in a slot a, a", a or a in the handle (L. The ferrule n is then forced downward, the taper thereof facing the segments of the handle inwardly, upon the said shanks and slightly over the said ends. This practice has been found to hold the shanks b, c, d, e, perfectly tight. When so secured, the spring inherent to the shanks will cause them to diverge, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3, so as to be normally opened.

To attach a cloth to the cleaner, it is merely necessary to drape it over the arms f q with the edges gathered centrally of all four shanks c, d, e, and raise the ferrule h. This not only closes all four hooks b, c, f, g upon the cloth, but gives a former back of the cloth, which is entirely concealed and protected.

The fore and aft hooks b, 0, through their overlap, firmly grip and retain the cloth, holding it against any tendency to roll while the device is in use.

The hooks f, 9 also grip the cloth but their main function is to rovide an edge backing therefor and hold e cloth. well forwardl of the shanks b, c, d, 6. It will be observe that both hooks I), c are protected by their shanks b, c.

The ferrule h, when the holding members are closed, is so positioned as to relnforce the shanks b, c, d, 6, adjacent to the various hooks, so that any give will be below said ferrule and have no tendency to open the hooks and release the cloth.

When the cloth, chamois, or other material, is positioned in the holder as above described, an high object may be rubbed without dis acin the cloth, chamois, or other material, an that portion of the same held over the hooks f 9 will be so formed or shaped as to be readily forced into a corner, angle. The wires adjacent to their hooked ends will be sufficiently stiff, and reinforced by the ferrule 72, to avoid the release of the cloth by the bending of the wires, and will, at the same time, so hold the cloth as to prevent its being rolled or otherwise drawn. therefrom from the use of the cleaner.

It is not my intention to limit the invention to the precise details of construction shown in the drawings, it being apparent that such may be varied without departing from the spirit and sco e of the invention.

Having described t .e invention, what I claim as new and desire to have protected by Letters Patent, is:

1. In a window-cleaner, the combination with a handle of a plurality of divergently extended stiff wire hooks arranged in pairs, the members of each pair of which are oppositely disposed, one pair of said members having arms at the free end thereof projected forwardly of the said other members, whereby a cloth will be shaped and held away from said other members, and means whereby said members may be closed upon a piece of cloth.

2. In a window-cleaner, the combination with a handle having, in one end thereof, four radial slots, a plurality of divergently extended sti'lf wire hooks having the lower end thereof bent at an angle and adapted to enter said slots respectively, means carried by said hooks, whereby a cloth will be shaped and held forwardly of the shanks thereof, means whereby said hooks may be closed upon a piece of cloth, and a tapered ferrule adapted to pass over the end of said handle and close it upon the bent ends of said hooks.

3. In a window-cleaner, the combination with a handle of two pairs of divergently extended stiff wires disposed toward the front and toward the rear of said handle, and at each side thereof, said forward and rear members being of different lengths and having the free end thereof formed into a hook extending toward the other, and said side members bein longer than said other members, and eac being provided with a forwardly projected arm having an inwardly turned edge forming laterally projected hooks whereby a cloth will be shaped and held away from said members, and a ring or ferrule slidably mounted upon said. members, whereby it may be moved toward said hooks to close them upon a piece of cloth.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto afiiXed my signature this 1st day of June, 1908, in the presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE L. HOLLAND.

Witnesses:

FRANK MCDONALD, JAS. W. HOLLAND. 

